PHOENIX — It's one of the greatest honors in sports -- being named an Olympian for your home country.
The Phoenix Mercury will have three players on Team USA when the Olympics get underway in Paris, led by five-time gold-medal winning Diana Taurasi. It's been 20 years since the 42-year-old made her WNBA debut, and was rather nonchalant about winning her first gold medal.
"I honestly was like, 'Wow, that was cool.' That's good, right? Just won the Olympics," Taurasi said. "Now going into my sixth, I don't have any words to really describe it."
Brittney Griner made her third Olympics team, and the first since her 10 month detainment in Russia.
"A lot of exciting things happening right now," Griner said. "We've got our first (child) on the way, back on the court, just a lot of good things happening in my life right now."
While Team USA is vying for their eighth-consecutive gold medal, the most emotional reaction comes from an Olympic rookie.
Kahleah Copper, who's been the Mercury's best player this season, will don the red, white and blue for the first time at age 29.
"Y'all see the game-winners, but y'all don't see what it takes," Copper said during an emotional press conference. "How many nights, and you prepare so long for this. For it to happen for me in year nine, it's so special."
Team USA will be training in Phoenix leading up to playing the WNBA All-Stars on July 20, just before the WNBA takes a hiatus during the Olympics.
The Americans' first game overseas will be July 29 against Japan.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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